Dictionary

1heave

verb \ˈhēv\

: to lift or pull (something) with effort

: to throw (something) with effort

: to breathe in and breathe out (a sigh) in a slow or loud way

heaved or hove \ˈhōv\ heav·ing

Full Definition of HEAVE

transitive verb
1
obsolete :  elevate
2
:  lift, raise <heaved the trunk onto the table>
3
:  throw, cast <heaving rocks>
4
a :  to cause to swell or rise
b :  to displace (as a rock stratum) especially by a fault
5
:  to utter with obvious effort or with a deep breath <heave a sigh of relief>
6
:  haul, draw
intransitive verb
1
2
:  retch
3
a :  to rise and fall rhythmically
b :  pant
4
a :  pull, push <heaving on a rope>
b :  to move a ship in a specified direction or manner
c past usually hove :  to move in an indicated way <the ship hove into view>
5
:  to rise or become thrown or raised up
heav·er noun
heave to
:  to halt the headway of a ship (as by positioning a sailboat with the jib aback and the rudder turned sharply to windward)
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Origin of HEAVE

Middle English heven, from Old English hebban; akin to Old High German hevan to lift, Latin capere to take
First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to HEAVE

Synonym Discussion of HEAVE

lift, raise, rear, elevate, hoist, heave, boost mean to move from a lower to a higher place or position. lift usually implies exerting effort to overcome resistance of weight <lift the chair while I vacuum>. raise carries a stronger implication of bringing up to the vertical or to a high position <scouts raising a flagpole>. rear may add an element of suddenness to raise <suddenly reared itself up on its hind legs>. elevate may replace lift or raise especially when exalting or enhancing is implied <elevated the taste of the public>. hoist implies lifting something heavy especially by mechanical means <hoisted the cargo on board>. heave implies lifting and throwing with great effort or strain <heaved the heavy crate inside>. boost suggests assisting to climb or advance by a push <boosted his brother over the fence>.

2heave

noun

: an act of lifting or pulling something with effort

: a forceful throw

Full Definition of HEAVE

1
a :  an effort to heave or raise
b :  hurl, cast
2
:  an upward motion :  rising; especially :  a rhythmical rising
3
:  horizontal displacement especially by the faulting of a rock
4
plural but sing or plural in constr :  chronic pulmonary emphysema of the horse resulting in difficult expiration, heaving of the flanks, and a persistent cough

First Known Use of HEAVE

circa 1571

Other Geology Terms

anthracite, boulder, cwm, erratic, igneous, intrusive, mesa, sedimentary, silt, swale
HEAVE[1] Defined for Kids

1heave

verb \ˈhēv\
heaved or hove \ˈhōv\heav·ing

Definition of HEAVE for Kids

1
:  to raise with an effort <Help me heave this box onto the truck.>
2
:  hurl, throw <He heaved rocks into the water.>
3
:  to utter with an effort <She heaved a sigh of relief.>
4
:  to rise and fall again and again <The runner's chest was heaving.>
5
:  to be thrown or raised up <Frost caused the ground to heave.>

2heave

noun

Definition of HEAVE for Kids

1
:  an effort to lift or raise <With a final heave they jammed him into the crate. — E. B. White, Charlotte's Web>
2
:  a forceful throw
3
:  an upward motion (as of the chest in breathing or of waves in motion)
Medical Dictionary

heave

verb \ˈhēv\
heavedheav·ing

Medical Definition of HEAVE

transitive verb
:  vomit <got carsick and heaved his lunch>
intransitive verb
:  to undergo retching or vomiting

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